Movable platform for unloading stock



2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Fran/r Hz'eder.

flttorne s.

Aug. 7, 1928.

F. RlEDER MOVABLE PLATFORM FOR UNLOADING STUCK Filed Sept. 8, 1925 & M 1 u F. RIEDER MOVABLE PLATFORM FOR UNLOADING STOCK Aug. 7, 1928.

Filed Sept. 8, 1925 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Aug. 7,1928.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

FBANK RIIEDER, OF HUNTINGTON LPARK, CALIFORNIA.

Application filed. September 8, 1925. Serial No. 55,055.

This invention relates to improvements in platforms for loading and unloading railroad cars, and particularly to those platforms designed for loading and unloading stock cars. j

Restrictions are placed upon the distances at which a stationary platform may be built from a railroad track. Usually this dis tance amounts to about three feet and the problem presented is to provide a construction which will bridge the distance between a stationary platform and the floor of a railroad car so as to permit the loading and unloading of live stock.

An object of this invention is to provide an improved construction consisting essen tially of a stationary platform and a movable platform which may be extended from the stationary platform tothe floor of the railroad car and to provide slidable side walls which when extended will form side wallsfor the movable platform.

Another object of the invention is to pro vide a platformfor loading and unloading railroad cars which may be retracted so that all parts will bethe required distance from the railroad track when not in use, and to provide a construction wherein braces and platform may be moved into extended position by rotating a singlecrank.

With the foregoing and other objects in view whichwill be made manifest in the following detailed description and specifically pointed out in the appended claims, reference is bad to the accompanying drawings for an illustrated embodiment of the invention, wherein; V i

. Figure I is a perspective View of the platform of the improved construction shown in retracted position adjacent a railroad car. a i i i Fig. 2 is a view similar to Fig. 1, the platform being shown in extended position. 7

Fig. 3 is a top plan view of a portion of the platform when in retracted or collapsed position. a

Fig. 4 is an end elevation of the platform.

Fig. 5 is a partial section taken substantially on the line 5-5 of Fig. 3. t

Fig. 6 is a view similar to Fig. 5, the movable platformbeng shown in extended or projected position.

Fig. 7 is a View taken substantially upon the line 77 of Fig. lin the direction indicated. i

Fig. 8 is a view in elevation taken substantially in the direction of the arrow 8 upon Fig. 3.

Fig. ,9 is a vertical section taken substantially upon theline 9--9 of Fig.

Fig. 10 is a top plan view of the end of one ofthe braces.

F1g. 11 is a side elevation of the end of one of the braces.

Referring to the accompanying drawings wherein similar reference characters designate similar parts throughout, the improved platfor-mconsists of a stationary platform from the rear of which extends an inclined runway. The stationary platform is constructed soas to be of approximately the same height as the height of the floor of the rallroad car abovethe ground and the inclined runway leads from the top of the platform to the ground.

The stationary platform and runway may be constructed in any desired manner and upon the drawing the stationary platform is shown as consisting of mudsills 10 on which longitudinal joists 11 rest. On the longitudinal joists 11 there are supporting posts 12, the foremost of which support a longitudinal joist 13. Transverse joists are supported on the longitudinal joist 13 and on the rear supporting posts 12, and extend in a direction perpendicular to the rails of the railroad track. On these joists a stationary platform 14- is supported, which has its renter portion provided with slots 18 be neath which, rollers 16 are mounted on the joists 15.

A movable platform 17 is provided which is arranged above the center portion of the stationary platform and has T-irons 18 securedupon its under side. The webs of the T-irons 18 extend through the slots 18 in the stationary platform and rest upon the rollers 16 so that the movable platform can bereadily moved relatively to thestationary platform. On the stationary platform, at the sides of themovable platform there are constructed side walls 19, the continuations of which are indicated at 20 and extenddownwardly along the sides of the inclined runway 21. On the side of one of the side walls 19 there is mounted a suitablesupport 22 on which acrank 23 is rotatable. This crank carries a sprocket wheel 24 and a ratchet wheel 25. Onthe underside of the movable platform 17 there is secured a rack26; and

rotatably mounted upon the transverse joists 15, is a shaft; 27. mTheshaft-27 carries a gear 28 and a sprocket 29, the former meshing with the rack 26. An endless chain 30 passes over the-sprockets 24 and 29 so that by rotating the crank 23 the shaft 27 will rotate and 7 move the movable platform relatively to the stationary platform upon the rollers 16. A pawl 31 is engage-able upon the ratchet wheel and servesto prevent rotation of the crank in at least one direction, so that the movable platform can be locked in extended position. 1

and the railroad car On the forward supporting posts 12, triangular braces 32 are pivotally mounted so as to be capable of swingin'gupon vertical axes. Springs 33 are associated with the'braces and urge them nto outermost position. The ma or portion of the upper portion of the braces 32 is arranged so that it will be below the webs of the Tiron s 18. 5 On the outer end of each of the braces,however, there are arranged a convergent guide r1bs3t and between these T guide ribs the top surface of the braces is 1 arranged as 111(11CEL'EGCl at 35 so as to be enegageable by the bottoms of the webs of the vT-irons 18.- I

Flexible elements indicated at 36,- which may be-cables or section of chain, are fastened to the underside of the movable platform 17 and to the braces 32 and when the movable "platform 17 is moved into its retracted position these flexible elements swing the braces 32 into their retracted positions aga nst the forwardside of the stationary platform.- Movable side walls'37 have side boards which are slidable between the side boards of the stationary side walls 19 so that these movable side walls may be caused to slide toward the railroad car R, as clearly I shown in Fig. 6.

I The operaitionof the device is as follows:

. -When the railroad car R has been positioned so thatits' door is opposite theplatform, the crank 23 is rotated, causing the shaft 27 torotate and slide the movable platform 17 forwardly, 'As the movable platform moves, the. braces 32 are allowed to swing forwardly in advance of it under the action of the'springs 33; and in the extreme y no position the movable platform has its rails, 1 which are'th'eIwebsof the T-irons 18, rest ing upon the raised'portions 35 on the braces between the convergent guides 34. In such a position 'the movable platform bridges the space between the stationary platform and f the floor of the railroad car. The pawl 31 "can then becaused to engage the ratchet wheelt25 to preyent backward movement of v the movable platform 17; The man who has operated the crank canthen' swing around the stationary side wall 19 on which the crank 18 mounted and wlnle on the movable 1 platform 17 can slide the movable side wall 37 on that side so thatit engages the side of the railroad car. door of the car and slide it into open position and walk to the other end of the stationary platform and swing or slide the movable side wall remaining, into that position wherein it forms a side wall for the movable platform in extended or projected position.

From the above described construction it will be readily appreciated that it is very He can then unlock the easy to form a continuous passage or viaduct from the floor of a railroad car to the ground, permitting stock to readily pass from the railroad car to a stock yard or from the stock yard to the car. Furthermore, by reversely rotating the crank 23 after the movable side walls have been rctracted the complete structure will be withdrawn to assume a position which is the required distance from the railroad tracks.

Heretofore it has been customary practice to first open the railroad car door and lift a runway from the stationary platform to the floor of the railroad car after the door has been opened. This has been found extremely disadvantageous for the reason that it frequently occurs that stock within a railroad car will atttempt to run out or may be pushed out at soon as the door is opened and before the runway can be lifted across, consequently the stock often fall and become injured, so that it is frequently necessary to kill certain of the animals. By the improved construction howcver the runway or movable platform is caused to bridge the space between the stationary platform and the railroad car before the door is opened so that upon opening the door, if any stock should attemptto run out or should be pushed out there is no danger of their falling and becoming hurt. The improved movable platform greatly facilitates the opening of the railroad car door and effectively prevents any loss or injury to the animals.

Various changes may be made in the de tails of construction without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.

Vhat I claim is:

1. A car loading and unloading platforn'i, comprising a stationary platform and a movable platform mounted thereon, adapted to be projected beyond the edge of the stat-ionary platform, braces pivoted to the stationary platform adapted to be swung outwardly therefrom to support the projecting ends of the movable platform, spring means for urging the braces into outermost position and flexible elements connecting said braces to the movable platform whereby when the movable platform is moved into its retractllo ed position the braces Will be swung against side of the movable platform extending the side of the stationary platform. downwardly through the slots and resting 2. A car loading and unloading platform upon said rollers, and means for moving 10 comprising a stationary platform having the movable platform. 5 slots formed therein, rollers secured to the In testimony whereof I have signed my stationary platform beneath the said slots, a name to this specification. movable platform, rails secured to the Ll11df- FRANK RIEDER. 

